Stave-bending machine.



E. F. BEUGLER.

. STAVE BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2.1915.

1,168,376. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTEIR mi m hYuzu/trggw ATTURNEY:

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cc.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. F. BEUGLER.

STAVE BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2,1915.

1 168 3,76, Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

&. 3 sums-sum 2 i w N N I 'i Q) N INVENTEIR' ATTURNEYEL THE COLUMBIAPLANDGRAF" c0, WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- INVENTUF:

ATTEIRNEYE THE COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, [)4 c4 UNITED;STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

EDWIN F. BEUGLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO E. & 'B. HOLMES;

MACHINERY COMPANY, OF fBUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STAVE-BENDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 2, 1915.

This invention relates to a machine for bending staves and moreparticularly staves which are adapted for repair Work and which do notrequire a large outfit for making repairs.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple and eflicientmachine of this character which can be made at comparatively low costand one in which the several parts are readily adjustable to differentlengths and sizes of staves.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 isa side elevation of a stavebending machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is atop'plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal horizontal section takenon line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 41s a fragmentary longitudinal verticalsection taken on line 4-4, Fig. 2, showing the bed of the machine in theuppermost position when bending a stave. Fig. 5 is a vertical transversesection taken on line 55 of Fig.

v1. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1,through the bed of the machine. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectiontaken on line 77, Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate .corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

1 indicates a substantially horizontal flexible table which is adaptedto support a barrel stave 2 during the operation ofbending the same tothe desired curvature to conform to the shape of the barrel for whichthe same is designed. This flexible table is preferably supported on abed plate made up of two sections 3 and 4. The inner section 3 of thisbed plate is preferably provided with downwardlyprojecting wall portionsor'flanges 5 and 6 supported on a suitable base 7. The outer section 4of the bed plate is vertically movable'and provid ed at its rear endwith suitable ears 8 which are horizontally pivoted on trunnions 9carried by forwardly-projecting ears 10 which are formed integral withthe stationary bed plate section 3.

. The flexible table comprises a plurality of Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Serial No. 31,695.

strips 56 of metal extending the full length l transverse blocks 57 arearranged in a row lengthwise of the metal plates and on the upper sideof the same. Each block is provided at its outer edges with downwardlyprojecting hook-shaped flanges 58 which receive the edges of the metalstrips 56. The upper face of each block is of concave form transverselythe curvature corresponding to the transverse curvature of the staves.

59 indicates a supporting block arranged in recesses 60, 61 located inthe opposing ends of the two bed plate sections. This supporting blockis arranged beneath the central portion of the table and is supported atits ends by vertically adjustable set screws 62, 63. The set screw 62 isarranged on the inner end of the stationary bed plate section andprojects into a socket 64 in that end of the supporting block, while theset screw 63 is mounted on the inner end of the movable bed platesection and is provided at its upper end within the recess 61 on theinner end of said bed plate section with a swivel head 65 whichslidingly supports the other end of the supporting block. This permitsthe set screw 63 to move with the movable portion of the bed platewithout interfering with the proper support of the supporting block. Therear end of the flexible table engages a rear abutment 66 which in turnis held in place by an abutment arm 67, the lower end of which ishorizontally pivoted as at 68 to the rear side or wall portion of thebase of the machine.

69 indicates a headed bolt arranged transversely between the verticalwalls of the stationary base 3 and passing through a slot in the upperend of the abutment arm 67' while the threaded end has a cap 71 heldthereon by a nut 72. Interposed between the cap 71 and the fixed bedplate section are two spiral springs 73, 74, one arranged within theother. These springs serve to hold the abutment block 66 yieldingly inits forward position through the medium of the arm 67 and rod 69.

67 indicates a filling piece interposed between the abutment blook andthe abutment arm 67 and serving to adjust the abutment understood thatthe flexible table may be nected together on the underside thereof by asuitable yoke 7 7. This yoke is provided with a central portion 7 8extending laterally therefrom approximately parallel with the 7underside of thebase and adjustably secured to the underside of the baseby an adjusting bolt 80 passing through a longitudinal slot 7 9 in theyoke. The front abutment is horizontally pivoted to the yoke 77 and isadapted to be pressed against the front end of the table by a suitablehand wheel 81 having a screw threaded stem 82 working in an internallyscrew threaded lug 83 on the movable bed plate section 4.

The means forimparting a vertical movement to the outer section 4 of thebed plate are preferably constructed as follows: 11 indicates a wormshaft arranged horizontally and lengthwise in the lower portion of themachine directly beneath the bed plate sections and parallel therewith.The forward end of this shaft is supported in a suitable bearing 12projecting upwardly from the base 7, while its rear part extends beyondthe rear side of the base and is journaled in a suitable bearing 13thereon. 14 indicates an internally threaded sleeve slidably mounted onthe worm shaft 11. This sleeve is provided on either side with laterallyprojecting lugs or abutinents 15 which 1 are adapted to engage with thelower end of a shifting arm 16, which has its lower end forked andstraddling the sleeve and bearing with its prongs or check portions 17against the abutments 15. A thrust bearing 13'" is interposed between ashoulder 13 of the worm shaft and the inner end of the bearing 13, torelieve the strain when the worm sleeve is moving in its forward workingstroke. The upper end of this shifting arm is bifurcated and secured tothe underside of the vertically movable base section 4. l Vhen the wormshaft is rotated in one direction the sleeve 14 and lower end of theshifting arm are carried forwardly, thereby causing the verticallymovable portion 4 of the bed plate to swing upwardly on its pivot. butwhen the worm shaft is rotated in a reversed direction the sleeve 14 iscaused to travel rearwardly to its initial starting place allowing themovable section of the bed plate to return to its normal horizontal p.0-sition by gravity.

The means for imparting an alternate rotary motion to the worm shaft arepreferably constructed as follows: 19 indicates, the main drive pulleysecuredto the worm shaft 11 by suitable set screws 20. Arranged oneither side of the main drive pulley are two loose pulleys 22, 23, heldthereon by a suitable nut 24. Driving belts turning in oppositedirections, are received on said loose pulleys and are adapted to bealternately shifted to the main driving pulley 19 by any suitable means,those shown in the drawings being constructed as follows: 25, 26 indiingrod 33 provided on its outer ends with suitable nuts 34. Extendinglaterally from the central portion 29 of the outer yoke is an ear 35surrounding the supporting rod 25. This ear carries a circular rod 36having adjustably secured thereto a belt shifter 33' which actuates thebelt running on the loose pulley 23. The central portion of the inneryoke'is also provided with an ear 33 which extends laterally therefromand is adapted to surround the supporting rod 26. It likewise carries acircular rod 39 which carries a belt shifter 40 adapted to control abelt running on the loose pulley 22. Arranged upon the rod 25 betweenthe ear 32 and the rear end of the inner yoke 28 is a compression spring41 while a similar compression spring 42 is carried on the supportingrod 26 between the ear 38 and the outer end of the outer yoke 27. Thesesprings act to force the said yokes to their respective ends of thesupporting rods. lVhen shifting either belt from its companion idlepulley to the central driving pulley the shifting rod 33 is shifted inthe proper direction and carries with it one of the yokes, therebycausing the belt shifter to move toward the central drive pulleycarrying with it one of the drive belts. The shifting rod 33 is actuatedby a shifting lever 43 fulcrumed at 44 to the base of the machine, andis connected by a link 45 to a sleeve 46 on the rod 33. Foot pedals 4343 extending laterally in opposite directions from the shifting leverserve as additional means for actuating the shifting mechanism. 7

Means are provided for automatically shifting. the belts to theirinoperative position said means determining the travel of the wormsleeve 14 in either direction, thereby limiting the vertical movement ofthe flexible table, making it possible to bend all of the staves to thedesired curvature. The 7 means are preferably constructed as follows: 47indicates a shifting rod arranged horizontally below the worm shaft 11while its other end is fulcrumed to the shifting lever 43. Adjustabletappets or collars i8, 49 are secured at opposite ends of the shiftingrod by set screws 50. Extending downwardly from the worm sleeve 14 is anarm 51 the lower end of which is slotted or forked and adapted tostraddle the shifting rod 47 between the adjustable tappets or collars.\Vhen the arm 51 engages with the collars when traveling in eitherdirection the shifting rod is moved in the proper direction to shift thebelt shifting mechanism in the proper direction to free the drivepulley, thereby stopping the machine. 52 indicates a brake drum or wheelsecured to the forward end of the worm shaft. A vertically movable brakearm 53 is pivoted at 54 to the lower portion of the bearing 12. 55indicates a vertically adjustable brake shoe secured to the outer end ofthe brake arm which is adapted to engage the periphery of the brakewheel. The inner end of the brake arm 53 is so constructed as to bedepressed by a roller carried by the shifting lever The arrangement ofthis roller is such that it depresses the inner end of the brake armwhen the shifting lever is in its vertical inoperativeposition. Thisserves to press the shoe against the brake wheel, thereby immediatelystopping the rotation of the worm shaft 11.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming the parts to be intheir normal position as shown in Fig. l, a stave 2 is placed on theflexible table between the abutments 66, 75, the outer one of which isforced against the stave by the screws 82 of the hand wheel 81, therebyfirmly holding the stave in place. The controlling lever a3 is thenshifted in the proper direction to cause the worm shaft to move the wormsleeve 14 forwardly or in the direction to force the shifting arm 16forwardly. This action causes the outer end of the vertically movablebed plate section A to move upwardly upon its horizontal axis from ahorizontal position to an inclined position shown in Fig. 4. It will benoted that the central part of the outer or underside of the stave isalways in line with the center of the axis 9 of the movable bed platesection, whereby a compressing effect is imparted to the upper or innerside of the stave lengthwise thereof as its front or outer end is bentupwardly and thereby prevents breaking of the same. Crushing of thestave or breakage of the machine is prevented by the resilient abutmentarm (57 governed by the springs 73, 7A which give enough to permit of aslight longitudinal movement of the table and stave when necessary.After the stave has been bent to the proper curvature, as shown in Fig.l, a retaining bar 84: having its ends provided with downwardly bentclaws 85 is placed over the stave with its claws in engagement with theends thereof, this being possible by providing the abutments 66, withnotches 86 which receive the claws. The hand wheel 81 is now turned torelease the abutment 7 5 after which the shifting lever 43 is reversedand the sleeve 1A moved rearwardly allowing the movable section of thebed plate to again attain the horizontal position shown 111 Fig. 1,preparatory to bending the next stave. The stave is held between theends of the retaining bar 852 while being removed from the machine andit remains connected therewith until the stave has dried or become setready for use when the retaining bar is removed.

This machine is simple and durable in construction and permits ofquickly and properly bending staves for diflerent sized barrels with theexpenditure of but little power and the employment of comparativelyunskilled labor.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stave bending machine comprising a flexible table, a sectional bedplate supporting said table, means carried at the outer ends of the bedplate for securing a stave to said flexible table, and means for raisingone section of the bed plate.

2. A stave bending machine comprising a flexible table, a sectional bedplate supporting said table, one section of which is vertically movable,means carried by the bed plate for securing a stave to said table, andmeans for imparting a vertical movement to the movable section of thebed plate.

3. A stave bending machine comprising a flexible table a sectional bedplate supporting said table, one section of which is movable and theother stationary, means carried by the bed plate for securing a stave tosaid flexible table, a vertically adjustable supporting block interposedbetween the inner ends of the bed plate sections for supporting thecentral portion of said flexible table, means for adjusting saidsupporting block relatively to said bed plate sections and means forimparting a vertical movement to the movable section of the bed plate.

i. A stave bending machine comprising a flexible table, a sectionalbedplate support ing said table, one section of which is piv= oted tomove vertically, means carried at the outer ends of said bed olate forclamping a stave to said flexible table, and a horizontal shaftjournaled in fixed bearings, a tappet movable lengthwise of said shaft,and an arm engaged by said tappet and connected with the movable sectionof the bed plate.

5. A stave bending machine comprising a flexible table, a sectional bedplate support: ing said table, one section of which is piv= oted to turnvertically, means carried at the outer ends of said bed plate forclamping a s a e to said. flexible table, and means for stave to saidflexible table, a worm shaft arranged horizontally beneath said bedplate, a horizontally movable member car ried by said Worm shaft inengagement with said shifting arm, means for rotating said Worm shaft,and means controlled by the horizontally movable member forautomatically stopping the rotation ofsaidworm shaft. v 1

7. A stave bending machine comprising a flexible table, a sectional bedplatesupporting said table, one section of which is vertically movableand provided with a de-- pending shifting arm, means carried at theouter ends of said bed plate for clamping a stave to said flexibletable, a worm shaft arranged horizontally beneath said bed plate, ahorizontally movable member carried by said worm shaft and engaging withsaid shifting arm, means for rotating said worm shaft, a controllinglever for said rotating means, and means controlled by the horizontallymovable member-for actuating said controlling lever for automaticallystopping the rotation of said worm shaft.

8. A stave bending machine comprising a flexible table, a sectional bedplate support ing said table, oneseotion of which is vertically movableand provided with a depending shifting arm, means carried at the outerends of said bed plate for clamping a stave to said fiexible'table, aworm shaft arranged horizontally beneath said bed plate, a horizontallymovable member carried by said Worm shaft and engaging with said Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by. addressing" theCommissioner of Patents,

shifting arm, tight and loose pulleys arranged on the Worm shaft, beltshifting means for shifting-driving belts relatively to said pulleys, -acontrolling lever for said belt shifting means, a brake drum arranged onsaid worm shaft, a brake shoe'adapted to engage said brake drum andactuated by said controlling lever, and means controlled by thehorizontally movable member for actuating said controlling lever.

9. .A stave bending machine comprising a stationary rear'bed platesection, a vertically movable bed plate section pivoted to swingvertically at its rear end onthe front end of said rear section, asupporting block arranged between the opposing ends of said bed platesections, and adjusting screws arranged on the opposing ends of said bedplate sections and supporting the ends of said block.

10. A stave bending machine comprising a stationary rear bed platesection, a vertically movable bed plate section pivoted to swingvertically at its rear end on the front end of said rear :section, arear abutment resiliently mounted on'the rear bed plate section, anadjustable abutment movably' mounted on the front bed plate section, ayoke on which said front abutment is pivotally mounted, and a clampingscrew arranged on said front bed plate section and passing through alongitudinal slot in said yoke.

11. A stave bending machine comprising a stationary rear bed platesection, a ver tically movable bed plate section pivoted to swingvertically at its rear end on the front end of said rear section, afront abutment adjustably mounted on the front bed plate section, a rearabutment movable lengthwise on the rear bed plate section, an abutmentarm operatively engaging its upper end with the outer side of said rearabutment while its lower end is pivotally mounted on a fixed support, atension rod connected atone end with said arm, and a spring interposedbe tween said rod and said support.

EDWIN F. BEUGLER.

Was i g n, D- 0-

